There is no question that Scripture teaches us to “receive Jesus”; to “believe in His Name”, to become children of God (John 1:12).
There are many who hear the gospel and will not receive the truth and hope being offered to them in the precious blood of Jesus. Whether you credit stubborn, hardened hearts (Rom. 1:18-22); the deceit of the enemy, Satan (Matt. 13:18-19); or the lack of the Holy Spirit making the message clear (1 Cor. 2:14); this will always be true of evangelism. Not everyone who hears the gospel is going to receive it.
To receive Jesus, we must also believe in His Name (John 1:12; 20:31; Acts 10:43). What about the Name of Jesus? What must we believe in when it comes to His Name?
Going back to Isaiah the prophet’s writings, His Name is “Immanuel” – God with Us (Isa. 7:14). Isaiah also gives a list of what His Name will be called in Isaiah 9:6: “Wonderful Counselor,” “The Mighty God,” “The Everlasting Father,” “The Prince of Peace.”
Jesus is God with us; carrying all of the identity of the trinity with Him:
Wonderful Counselor – The Holy Spirit is our Counselor (John 14:16-17, 26; 15:26)
The Mighty God – What Prophet would ever call a mere mortal, “The Mighty God”? Isaiah said that would be Jesus’ Name! Jesus is God, even according to the OT.
The Everlasting Father – Jesus said he was in the Father and the Father in Him. Isaiah said that Jesus’ Name would reflect His oneness with the Father.
The Prince of Peace – Jesus was the bearer of peace between God and man. This is also what His Name reflects. Without Jesus, there is no peace with God.
You cannot truly claim to believe in the Name of Jesus if you do not believe these truths about Him. His deity is articulated and proclaimed in His Name.
